Domino XL and centering on .75” stock
For normal mortise and tenons, I don’t care whether the mortise is centered, I just reference the same side of the boards. The Domino XL at the lowest setting is approximately 1/32” shy of that 3/8” target on 3/4” stock.
While planning placement of concealed hinges on a cabinet doors, where pinned bushings would be above and below two shelves, that difference comes into play but only if the mortises are referenced from different sides of the shelves (like one from the shelf top and one from the shelf bottom) – the would increase the error by 1/16” and produce slop in the joint.
It would have been nice if FESTOOL took that into account in the design, but that is a USA view.
On a secondary note, if using an XL to face-join 3/4” stock, you can set the mortise depth to 15mm on the face and normal 20mm on the joining part, then cut 1/4” off the 40mm dominos (in case you think you have to also have the 500 😉)
Replies
You can swap out the metric fence height gauge for imperial fence height gauge. They're available on Ebay for both models. That might work for you.
Have you checked out the Seneca Tools XL domi-plates? They are a little pricey for what they are...but then so is the Domino system and the entire Festool-iverse. Basically the domi-plate is an aluminum plate with a handle that mounts to the base of your domino that registers the cutter's center exactly 1/2 the thickness of the corresponding stock. To use it you turn the tool upside down and register the plate on the work-piece and make the plunge. That's it. They make them so that you get two stock sizes with each plate. 3/4" on one side...flip it over and switch the handle and you have 1/2" stock. 5/8" and 7/8" are another plate. Use baltic birch with metric thicknesses? 15mm and 18mm is yet another option. Seneca was also clever enough that include a little window in the plates so you can see the alignment etching in the domino base.
I use a DF500 and was stuggling with the weird, slight off-sets associated with the Domino. Gave the 1/2" 3/4" plate a shot and never looked back...now have full set.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled